As already highlighted in the morning sessions, the IMO decision has left the industry open to more uncertainty – but what does this mean for LNG, and what is the outcome that the LNG industry would favour? Panellists will explore the implications of the IMO Net-Zero Framework postponement specifically for LNG pathways. With global regulatory certainty delayed, the discussion will focus on how LNG investments, fleet planning, and supply strategies are affected, and what this means for bio-LNG and e-LNG development.

- How LNG investment decisions may shift and how this might change post October 2026

- Commercial and operational advantages or risks for already operational LNG-fuelled vessels

- The opportunity or risk for LBM and eFuel development

- How can the whole industry collaborate to ensure the continued development?

Steve Esau

Chief Operating Officer
Sea-lng

See Bio

Stuart Carpenter

Senior Director, LNG Implementation
Carnival

See Bio

Of the 151 alternative-fuelled vessels ordered in H1 2025, LNG accounted for 87, according to DNV Maritime, and so it is clear that the adoption of LNG is not slowing down but increasing. There are also positive signs of infrastructure development, with many LNG bunkering vessels on order in 2025 too. But how does the demand and supply side stack up – will both grow sufficiently to support each other? Join this session to learn:

- What are the newbuild patterns coming into 2026, and do we anticipate a continued increase in LNG newbuild demand

- How much does perceived demand play into the discussion, with dual-fuel newbuild vessels?

- What are potential regional disparities in LNG bunkering infrastructure, and how does this impact shipowner decision-making?

- What regulatory factors are facilitating or blocking fast development of LNG bunkering vessels?

With the regulatory pressure of IMO and EU frameworks increasing, there are efforts within the industry to not only reduce emissions by choosing low-carbon fuels, but also efforts to understand how new technologies can support better energy efficiency. This session will highlight some key technology innovations that can help improve this energy efficiency.

- How have retrofits and engine enhancements improved measurable fuel savings for compliance?

- How can we use data and tracking to improve estimates on energy efficiency, and identify areas of improvement?

- Is there evidence to show emission measurement technology can help with emissions surrendering for lower compliance

- How will the IMO net-zero framework help with supporting energy efficiency development?

While the IMO's Net-Zero Framework could establish a global fuel standard, some believe that it benefits LNG and biofuels, and less mature alternatives have limited regulatory support or guidance. This session delves into the challenges and opportunities for these emerging fuels, examining the current safety, operational, and certification standards.

- What guidelines exist for ammonia, hydrogen, and methanol, and how do they compare to those for LNG?

- Are current safety standards sufficient to mitigate risks associated with these fuels?

- How can regulators and other stakeholders collaborate to accelerate the development of comprehensive frameworks?

- What safety concerns need to be answered in these regulations, for the future viability of these fuels in shipping?

As ammonia moves closer to commercial use as a marine fuel, safety in bunkering operations remains a defining challenge. The Port of Rotterdam has completed an ammonia bunkering pilot and used the outcomes to validate its safety policy, following its nine steps approach for preparing ports for future fuels.

- This session will discuss how these pilots are shaping a consistent framework for safe ammonia bunkering worldwide.

- Lessons learned from the Port of Rotterdam’s ammonia bunkering pilot and its nine steps approach

- How pilots in Rotterdam and Singapore can inform wider ammonia readiness strategies

- Key safety measures and operational standards emerging from early demonstrations

- How coordinated pilot programs can accelerate regulatory and port preparedness for ammonia uptake

Over the past couple of years, we have seen the conversation move away from a ‘battle of the fuels’ to a multi-fuel fleet future – but what does this mean for the bunkering infrastructure needed at ports? While port infrastructure is growing, and there are more bunkering hubs being developed, the considerations of a multi-fuel bunkering port need to be assessed from a safety and viability standpoint – and how can ports prepare for this? This panel will cover:

The increase in LNG investments today is driven not only by immediate emissions benefits, but by the prospect of an LBM pathway that allows the fuel to move from a transition fuel, into a long-term compliance option. This session will explore how the value chain can develop this pathway, from methane slip mitigation, feedstock scaling and fuel certification, to bunkering logistics and commercial contracts needed. How can offtake agreements be agreed in a way that benefits both the supplier and buyer, and accelerates availability of LNG drop in fuel.

The US has become a leader in large-scale LNG export capacity, but the development of small-scale infrastructure is still lagging in some regions like the West Coast and areas of the East Coast too. This panel will explore how different regions in the US are approaching LNG infrastructure growth and the role of regulation and US policy in accelerating or slowing this.

- What is the state of bunkering infrastructure across the US, and where are there still regional gaps?

- What emerging builds and projects look promising for expansion of small-scale bunkering?

- How is US policy and current administration impacting the speed of LNG infrastructure growth in the US

- How is the demand side changing in the US, and how does this infrastructure growth impact shipowner decisions in the region?

The increase in LNG investments today is driven not only by immediate emissions benefits, but by the prospect of an LBM pathway that allows the fuel to move from a transition fuel, into a long-term compliance option. This session will explore how the value chain can develop this pathway, from methane slip mitigation, feedstock scaling and fuel certification, to bunkering logistics and commercial contracts needed. How can offtake agreements be agreed in a way that benefits both the supplier and buyer, and accelerates availability of LNG drop in fuel.

The role of flag states in decarbonisation goes beyond the enforcement of IMO and other global regulation compliance. For shipowners investing in newbuilds, the choice of flag can shape financing options, cargo owner perception, and the flexibility to adopt fuels like methanol and ammonia. There is also a trade-off between strong flags with higher costs or lenient flags with short-term savings but risk of other penalties. The session will cover: